1. He said yes, I went out with a group
Each of us having goods to sell

2. And among us was an ascetic pious man
Whose path in his asceticism was guided

3. Until when we travelled, he found the journey tiring
So he said “prayers, so do them good”

4. His companions blamed him and said
“Press on, making up prayers is allowed, my friend”

5. “To press on is an ease for the caravan”
“So seize the opportunity before distress”

6. This is a vast, unknown path
Where neither lion nor ghoul are safe

7. He opposed all the people and dismounted
“Disagreement has always been ill-omened”

8. Until when he prepared for prayers
A man came to him from before him

9. He said, greeting him with peace
A dark trick to deceive him

10. “Who are you, O Sheikh, and this place
“Is empty, no man in it”

11. “And what is it you do and act
“I disavow and do not know it”

12. The Sheikh was busy with his prayers
His mind absorbed in his devotion

13. Then he finished his prayers and greeted
Showing sternness and frowning

14. And said “O ignorant man, what do you ask
“Do you not know what I do?”

15. “You disbeliever, you deny
“One whose religion of guidance you do not perceive”

16. The man said “You have not given me knowledge, just say
“What is it you do, O man?”

17. “I have never seen anyone but you
“Taking this path and journey”

18. The Sheikh said “Madman! Do you not recognize
“Or are you veering from the path?”

19. “This is people's obligatory prayers
“Binding on them, from which none recoil”

20. And he fully explained religious law
So the man cried out deliberately and fell down

21. Appearing as if he had recognized his Lord
And had not known Him before for his sin

22. To trick the Sheikh and stop his travelling
Until the caravan passed by

23. So the Sheikh realized his intention
And foiled his deceit and cunning

24. And said “I cannot leave
“Displaying great pain”

25. “This lad did not know the Most Merciful
“Nor the Messenger except now”

26. “And now he has become Muslim, nay, believed
“How I wish I had found refuge for him”

27. “If he had lived he would have been my son
“A great help for my number”

28. “And married that beautiful girl
“And attained blessing and wealth”

29. “I am an old man, rich
“With many paternal and maternal uncles”

30. “And I have no son but him
“And the girl is the apple of her brother's eye”

31. “And in my land none I love for her
“Is of noble lineage to please her”

32. “They are all envious enemies of me
“Their envy leaves them no composure”

33. “I regret they take after me
“My wealth I gathered with toil”

34. “If this lad had lived, he would have been a fine in-law
“And strengthened my back with his strength”

35. “But he has died from his devotion
“His soul flowing with tears”

36. So the deceiver understood the ascetic's intention
He played dumb in deceit and destruction

37. And did not wake from his swoon or benefit
From his words, it was only a war of deceit

38. So the ascetic was sure his magic
Had not diverted his plot and cunning from him

39. So he got up from his place calling
His companions though the night was dark

40. “A man has died, so return and bear witness
“To his funeral as I told you, and strive”

41. So the killer feared his nearest
Companion would hear and deny him

42. So he got up from his swoon hastily
Subduing by his murder and arrogance

43. The ascetic said “Stop a little
“The beautiful rewards the beautiful”

44. “A saying, hear me and understand
“And have mercy, for he who does not have mercy”

45. “I am an old man, I have no movement
“I fear, fighting is not my custom”

46. “And in killing me is no glory
“If you mean to kill me and glory”

47. The cunning man said “What disgrace attaches to me
“If it is a grave sin that overwhelms me?”

48. The Sheikh said “A weak, powerless old man
“Is too proud to be killed by the noble”

49. “There is no pride in that, nor bravery
“But manifest, ugly disgrace in it”

50. “O friend, have you not heard that Mālik
“Spared ‘Uthmān for that reason”

51. “And held back from him when he saw him alone
“His troops having deserted him”

52. “Muhammad said to him “Kill him, Mālik!” He said “Nay,
“I fear the Arabs will say

53. “And one cannot escape that disgrace by fleeing
“‘The weak old man was killed in single combat’”

54. “And pride, had you killed him while he
“Was surrounded, protected by his tribe”

55. “So ceaseless were Muhammad's reproaches”
“Thus is the nature of noble morals

56. “And the nobility of souls and lineage
“And so, when the villains camped

57. “As was their habit at night”
“‘Amr al-Qanā said to them ‘Do not hasten

58. “‘To kill them while they sleep, be ashamed
“‘Rouse them with the neighing of horses

59. “‘And warn them, beware of swerving”
“‘Killing the unprepared or sleeping

60. “‘Is disgrace, and killing the noble is evil’”
The cunning man said “Triumph is

61. “To attain what one has sought”
“And the aim is to gain it, however it be

62. “The bold seize the opportunity”
“And I do not heed the likes of you

63. “Or get taken in by such nonsense”
“You want to trick me to be secure

64. “And slacken my grip in regret”
“The mind of the adequate man

65. “Is not bent by fine phrases”
“Only every weak, powerless man

66. “Is deceived, accustomed to being duped”
“Have you not heard the story of Ẓalīm

67. “And his murder of the wretched Nājish?”
He said “No.” He said “I saw a Nājish

68. “Moving like a weasel slinking”
“Who had cunningly trapped him

69. “Leashing and leading him”
“Ẓalīm said ‘Why have you seized me

70. “‘And why have you accosted me?’”
“He said ‘I am a poor man, with dependents

71. “‘And daughters whose state is precarious’”
“‘Nine small children.’ So Ẓalīm wept

72. “At his words, and laughed”
“The hunter said ‘This is wondrous

73. “‘An affectation! Rather, folly and play’
“‘In the blink of an eye, weeping and laughing

74. “‘A wretched Nājish shedding forced tears!’”
“Ẓalīm said ‘I do not know the reason for it

75. “‘It being wondrous in marvellous matters’
“‘Which obscure their causes

76. “‘And confuse the roads to them’”
“‘And what I did seemed strange

77. “‘Without cause and origin’”
“The Sheikh said ‘My son, good explanation is preferred

78. “‘So tell me the reason’”
He said “My weeping was for my chicks

79. “The nights have deceived their hopes in me”
“I went out to graze for them and return

80. “Now I have fallen into this plight”
“They await my return

81. “Oh, if they knew my death!”
“The Sheikh was reminded by this of his sons

82. “His heart softened”
“If the decree of destiny were not firmer

83. “I would release him from his time and free him”
“But he showed him fortitude

84. “The wretched are wretched forever”
And said “This is the cause of weeping

85. “There is no secrecy in it for me”
“Why did you laugh?” He said “Your laughter at me

86. “The affairs of your likes are very laughable”
“You went out seeking sustenance for dependents

87. “While sustenance in your house is like mountains”
He said “What is that?” He said “A treasure

88. “In your house where the goat is tied”
“An ancient, buried hoard

89. “Of every kind of coin”
The Sheikh rejoiced at that and was elated

90. And thought to release him, and he had erred
For the decree of destiny has no releaser

91. And none bound by destiny has a releaser
So he said “If I released you for what you mentioned

92. “Without reflecting on it”
“I released ready cash in my hands

93. “For a promise which may be unkept”
“People would blame me and say ‘Ignorant man!’

94. “‘So my excuse for what I did is inexcusable’”
Ẓalīm knew his cunning

95. Did not match his stupidity and scheming
So he said “What shall I do? I have fallen

96. “And nearly gained, but did not profit”
“There must be cunning thought and subtle stratagem

97. “To make me a way to success”
“I am his captive, suffering his tyranny

98. “And have none to save me from his injustice
“Except the Powerful, Forgiving God

99. “Who gently mends the broken”
“I see nothing for what has happened but to invent

100. “A clear proof, relying on my Creator, Lord of Man
“To move me from captivity to the Abode of Permanence”

101. So the hunter heard and understood his intention
And said to himself, grasping the implication

102. “A wise, intelligent old fox
“Will doubt my words of his kind”

103. “One does not accept a claim without witness
“Especially from an opponent”

104. “If I gave a thousand proofs
“To confirm what I recount as evidence”

105. “That would not increase him in anything but rejection
“And rebuttal, ever and always”